232 BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



had been previously noticed gradually retiring over the sides of the 

 pupa, are to be observed at the posterior end of the abdomen ; the 

 eyes then turn quite black, and the ventral surface of the pupa is 

 partially slit open, whilst down the centre of the crack several dusky 

 spots become dimly traceable. The next day a rather thick streak 

 appears down the centre of the thorax, and two days later this streak 

 is croAvned by a little circular dusky spot ; the broAvn patch on the 

 dorsal surface of the abdomen shrinks loAver doAvn, and the feet of the 

 future imago sloAvly begin to separate themselves from the pupa ; the 

 following day the dusky streak Avhich had appeared three days pre- 

 viously, down the centre of the thorax, becomes reduced to a mere 

 line, and instead of the little dusky spot, the position of the latter is 

 occupied by two short parallel lines, Avhilst a small cluster of three 

 dusky spots also appears on the centre of the abdomen. Later, the 

 thorax becomes free of all markings, and the abdominal markings 

 also practically disappear. After seven days a dark spot becomes 

 observable on each side of the base of the thorax ; these spots gradually 

 enlarge, and finally become blended into one dark-coloured blotch, 

 Avhich sloAvly spreads over the thorax, head and Aving- cases, turning 

 them shining black, after Avhich the deep colour spreads to the abdo- 

 men, although the latter only becomes slightly discoloured in com- 

 parison with the head, thorax and wing-cases, on Avhich the usual 

 markings of the imago gradually make their appearance. The pupa, 

 Avhose changes in appearance have been thus detailed, produced an 

 imago the next day, April 3rd, 1866 (Healy). 



Parasites. — Healy states that the larva of X. aurella is subject to 

 the attack of a Hymenopterous parasite, and notes that the parasitic 

 larva emerging at the back of the head of the Nepticulid larva, applies 

 its mouth to the hole through Avhich it emerged, and proceeds to absorb 

 the juices of its victim, till there is nothing left of the unfortunate 

 Nepticulid larva but the dry empty skin. The parasitic larva is then 

 full-fed, fat and plump, there being just sufficient nourishment in the 

 body of one larva of N. aurella to supply it Avith the proper amount of 

 food. 



Food-plant. — Chiefly (if not entirely) in evergreen bramble, Fiubus 

 fruticosus. [Before A r . fragariella, N. gei and the allied species were 

 separated from N. aurella, many other food-plants were recorded, e.g., 

 Stainton gives : Rubus fruticosus, R. idaeus, Geum urbanum, Fragaria 

 vesca and Agrimonia eupatoria; Wood still allows as many (or rather 

 more) food-plants, not acknowledging the specific distinctness of N. 

 fragariella and A 7 , gei ; he gives : bramble, strawberry, agrimony, 

 Spiraea ulmaria, ? raspberry, ? dewberry, ? Geum.] 



Time of appearance. — The species is continuously brooded whilst 

 the temperature is suitable for its proper groAvth and emergence. 

 Jordan found a neAvly-emerged imago on February 3rd, 1890, on a 

 bramble leaf at Teignmouth. Farren says : "Larvae may be found at 

 all times in the neighbourhood of Cambridge, and the moths bred 

 accordingly." Corbett says: "Full mines may be obtained at 

 Doncaster, from October to February," and Atmore has found larvae 

 in their mines at King's Lynn, "in November, December and 

 January." Stainton found larvae at LeAvisham, on April 4th, 1852, 

 and he further reports " an undoubted N. aurella bred from Agrimonia 

 eupatoria, on March 4th, 1861, from a larva received from Healy, on 



